TL; DR – Sometimes you just want a simple party dress! And other times, you end up swearing at “velvet” fabric. I was so pleased to be able to test the new Mariko dress by Notch. There are about 75 different ways to make the dress/top, and I chose the long version with a gathered…
Tag: Size Inclusive
Judy, Take 2
TL; DR – FABRIC MATTERS! I made my first Judy in a really stiff, mid-weight cotton that wasn’t even long enough to get all the pieces cut properly. But I am still a sucker for a wrap/tie dress, so I got my hands on this lighter fabric on sale, and I decided I was going…
QUINCY, Take 2
TL; DR – Sometimes you just need to try a pattern a second time! Did you know that RED is *the* color for the fall/winter? Do you know how happy I am about this? Red is my favorite color. So I had this bright red Ikea sheet which was perfect for a fall, red, dress….
Rosalie, Take 5
TL; DR – I love this print. Look, what else do I have to say about Rosalie? I did consult my own tutorial, as I’ve been sewing distracted this past few weeks. This is a stretch woven from Mood Fabrics, and the print is amazing. Anyway, I have 60s dresses and 70s dresses, I have…
The Juniper Dress by Tiana Herring Patterns
TL; DR – SHOW MORE FAT MODELS WEARING THE GARMENT I follow a lot of fat sewists on Instagram. Because I’m a fat sewist. Usually, when a pattern launches, there will be A LOT of straight-sized examples, front and center, with plus-size versions buried down deep as you scroll through examples on the pattern-maker’s site….
Pattern Review: Loviisa Dress from Named Clothing
TL; DR – Swing dress or tent? You all know I’m a sucker for a shirt dress. And a sucker for a 60s-style dress. When Named Clothing released their new Loviisa dress, I was all-in. Early tester reviews said it was *short* so I added a couple of inches to the pattern. The pattern is…
Pattern Review: LW Hoodie from The Sew Sew
TL; DR – MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE. I’ve tested for The Sew Sew before and appreciate how creative she is with her zero and low-waste patterns. I jumped at the chance to test a Low-Waste Hoodie pattern that looked so cool and effortless. And, finally found a use for this grey wool stretch woven!…
Pattern Review: The French Dart by Maven Patterns
TL; DR – FEELING GROOVY! Did you know Ikea did fabric? I think they had been doing it for a while in Europe, but I had never seen actual Ikea fabric in North America. Until now. And it is CHEAP. I have a whole haul, so expect a lot of Ikea prints over the next…
Pattern Review: Loie Blouse by TAUKO
TL; DR – This is why I don’t typically use fabric with a directional pattern. I had the pleasure once again as being a pattern tester for the latest issue of TAUKO magazine. The pattern I chose was the Loie blouse. I don’t know why I keep choosing top patterns when sewing for TAUKO, but…
Free Pattern Review: Cory Raincoat from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Not a beginner pattern, but I figured it out. I got caught in the rain the other day; the husband appropriated the compact umbrella I carried with me in my purse, so I ended up having to take an Uber rather than get absolutely soaked in the rain. It was time –…
Pattern Review: Bryson Bomber from Styla Patterns
TL; DR – Why do I insist on not following fabric recommendations? I’ve wanted to make a bomber jacket for a while. I thrifted a Missoni for Target shower curtain (I absolutely love this print) and thought that the polyester-type fabric would be perfect for a bomber jacket. So I bought and downloaded bomber jacket…
Pattern Review: Cinch Me I’m Dreaming by Forest and Thread
TL; DR – I’m too old to wear shorter dresses. Thankfully, a longer option exists! I love testing for Forest and Thread. I don’t know what it is about her patterns, but I always end up pushing myself to do the cleanest finishes and focus on detail. So I jumped at the chance to do…
Pattern Review: Milla Wrap Dress from Designer Stitch
TL; DR – Maybe leopard isn’t so bad? You know my trials and tribulations with the Atlas Dress. So when I saw that the Milla Dress pattern from Designer Stitch HAD MULTIPLE LENGTHS, I jumped on it. It’s almost identical to the Atlas Dress, except that it can be longer or shorter. It also has…
Rowan Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – Much simpler when you don’t line it! I made a Rowan Dress SOOOOOO long ago. It was one of the early dresses where oh, wait, I have to figure out how to line something and do a hidden zipper? OOPS. I started teaching undergrads again, and I, of course, needed a new…
Free Pattern Review: Spearmint Corset from Mood Fabrics (and more!)
TL; DR – This corset, at least, wasn’t too hard at all! The daughter was going to her first Renfaire and needed an outfit. We found this gorgeous silky floral print at Joann’s and made the Spearmint Corset from Mood Fabrics and the Freshly Squeezed skirt from Sew Daily (it was free in the magazine…
Pattern Review: Judy Dress by Notches.
TL; DR – Fabric matters, also make sure you have big enough pieces. From my local buy-nothing group, I got these large(ish) pieces of fabric that were used as table clothes at a wedding. They were grey with white polka-dots, grey and white stripes, and navy checkered. They are 100% cotton, but of the heavier…
Tie Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – I’m in my summer caftan phase apparently. You know when you find a fabric online and you buy a quantity, but it shows up not as one continuous piece, but instead the yardage is made up of smaller cuts? You know how you planned a dress with that fabric but now it…
Pattern Review: LUMI Top from Tauko
TL; DR – Sometimes you gotta just do what feels right. I once again was invited to do a make and share for Tauko Magazine, issue 12. I chose the LUMI top, which is supposed to be a sweatshirt. It’s a million degrees here and the last thing I wanted was a sweatshirt. I also…
Pattern Mash-Up: M8286 and Rosalie
TL; DR – I might be getting the hang of this! I loved my first m8286, but it was missing something. So I decided to see if I could hack it together with the Rosalie dress’s flair bottom. IT WORKED PERFECTLY. This is an ankara fabric I’ve had for a while, and it was perfect…
Annecy Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – LOOK AT THE CUTE LITTLE DOGGIES! Seriously, just look at them. I got this fabric from my Christmas Mood Mystery Box. It’s a really light shirting fabric, and Annecy was a perfect match! Still super-simple, still comfortable and flattering. Woot. Or, woof.
Pattern Review: M8286
TL; DR – I made this harder than it needed to me. It looks complicated but it quite simple and satisfying. Look, you offer me a shirt dress that also wraps? YES PLEASE. I have a bit of a history with this pattern; I bought it a long time ago in the wrong size range,…
Abingdon Dress, Take 2
TL;DR – Still a great pattern, not sure about the final result in this case? I’m a sucker for the gingham trend. I don’t know why, but I’m in a yellow mood right now. Found this sweet, yellow gingham and thought it would make a cute Abingdon dress. And it did! Except I’m not sure…
Kielo Wrap Dress, Take 10 (!!!)
TL; DR – I really, really, really, really, really love this pattern. More knit, more Kielo. The fabric was a bit tricky because it wasn’t slippy, so it was hard to move around. I mean, it wasn’t impossible, obviously, and I still managed to finish the dress in an afternoon. This print, though. I love…
Peacock Wrap Dress, Take 5 and 6
TL; DR – Works with knits, too! In my seemingly never-ending quest to work through my knit fabric stash (that I keep adding to because ADHD so that’s why it’s never-ending lol*sob), I decided that I wanted to try out using the Peacock wrap dress pattern with knits. The only issue was securing the facing,…
Léonie Dress, Take Three
TL; DR – POCKETS! More fun with DVF x Target. This was a duvet cover (the other side is leopard print that I literally have no idea what to do with), and I wanted a pattern that really focused on this lovely print. So I made a Léonie dress. LOOK AT IT! I LOVE IT…
Tie Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – Sometimes you have to repurpose a garment into another one. It’s (still) #memademay, and I tried on a dress that I had made and decided I didn’t like it anymore. But, I still loved the fabric. I had a little bit left over, and so I decided to make a Tie Dress!…
Helena Wrap Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – [Insert swear words here] It’s #memademay! My goal this year was to reach for garments I’ve made that I don’t typically reach for, or haven’t reached for in a while (aka all my summer garments). I decided to reach for my green Helena wrap dress, and I was reminded how much I…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 7
TL; DR – Is there anything this dress can’t do? I am still desperately trying to use a bunch of my knit prints, and really, there’s no reason why some of my favorite woven patterns couldn’t be used for these relatively not-stretchy knit prints I have been collecting. So, this groovy print just screamed Mary…
Pattern Review: Tie Dress from Sewing Therapy
TL; DR – A lined bodice doesn’t have to be hard. I had the pleasure of testing the Tie Dress from Sewing Therapy that just launched today! It is a straightforward sew, ideal for lighter fabrics. It can tie either on the sides or front/back, and it can be worn (like I am) with the…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 7
TL; DR – Make even more Zadie, now with more prints! What do you get when you cross a Zadie jumpsuit and sheets from the Target x DVF collab? Y’all I am HYPED about this jumpsuit. I used pre-made white bias tape because I don’t have time/patience to make my own matching for this. Anyway,…
Pattern Review: Penny Dress from Lore Piar
TL; DR – I’m starting to really dig a variety of shift dresses! I got to test the Lore Piar Penny Dress, and I wasn’t disappointed! Wait, you might be saying if you clicked on the link and noticed there is a wrap option for this dress/top, aren’t you all about the wrap? You are…
Pattern Review: Annecy Dress from Styla Patterns
TL; DR – I love this shirt dress pattern. I had the pleasure of testing the Annecy dress from Styla Patterns. Look, I won’t say no to a shirt dress pattern. And I was thrilled with this one, especially because it has a grown-in sleeve option. I made it out of this lovely vintage fabric…
Pattern Review: Dyad Reversible Wrap Dress from Tauko Magazine Issue 11
TL; DR – What’s better than one dress? FOUR DRESSES! Look, y’all know I love a good wrap dress. So when Tauko Magazine was looking for people to make the new DYAD pattern from Issue 11, I knew it was meant to be. What’s great about this pattern is that you don’t get just ONE…
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 4, NOW WITH A TUTORIAL!
TL; DR – Here’s how to finish the front plackets. Target did a collab with DVF. I didn’t particularly like the dresses, but I did love the sheet-sets. So I got some, and I made another Rosalie. I really think that this is an amazing beginner pattern, but it really isn’t clear how to finish…
Pattern Review: Susan Shirt Dress from Fibre Mood
TL; DR – So. Many. Buttons. MOAR SHIRT DRESSES! I loved the slit up the sides and the cut and length of this dress. I wanted a long shirt dress pattern for these totally groovy sheets that I thrifted, so here comes Susan from Fibre Mood. I’ve made so many shirt dresses and shirts that…
Pattern Review: Jenna Shirt by Closet Core Patterns
TL; DR – LOOK AT THIS FANTASTIC SHIRT I’ve made a lot of Kalle shirts/dresses. So when Closet Core (who makes the Kalle) come out with Jenna, I was all over it. I had JUST enough fabric left over from a Kalle I had made (and gave away) to make this shirt, and OMG I…
Pattern Review: Estelle Dress from Sew Over It
TL; DR – FREAKING KNIT FABRIC. I had this dress that I called my Joan dress, as in Joan from Mad Men. It was figure-hugging and a deep shade of green. I stopped fitting me, so I let it go, but I haven’t let the idea of that dress go. I have been trying to…
Kalle Shirt, Take 2
TL; DR – I finally figured this pattern out. I got this table cloth from the local buy-nothing group. I had been seeing algorithmically served-up ads on my FB of a clothing line that entirely looks like this table cloth, and when it popped up, I was so happy that it was gifted to me….
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – OMG designer fabric really IS different, in the best ways possible. I’m trying REALLY hard not to buy more fabric. Like REALLY REALLY hard. But I can’t resist looking at Joann’s when there’s a sale (which is, to be fair, all the damn time). And then I saw this designer fabric by…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 4
TL; DR – You can make this with 2.1yrds of fabric. More Mood mystery box goodness. I decided that I would use contrasting fabric for the collar, front placket, etc, but it turns out, I didn’t need to! I managed to squeeze in all the pattern pieces in only a little more than two yards!…
Pattern Review: Leah Jumpsuit from Fibre Mood
TL; DR – Why can’t I still figure out how to do zippers? Y’all know I love jumpsuits. But I had yet to make a proper boiler suit or flight suit type jumpsuit. I have had the Leah jumpsuit from Fibre Mood for a while now, and finally got around to making it with a…
Pattern Review: Wave Top from TAUKO Magazine
TL; DR – I love a simple top with an interesting detail. I once again participated in TAUKO magazine’s make and share, this time for issue 10. I chose the Wave top, a decision I do not regret. It’s just three pieces, with an interesting deep should pleat detail on both the front and back….
Pattern Review: Parker Dress by Styla Patterns
TL; DR – Gathering self jersey can be a real pain. I am a Styla Pattern tester, and in my quest to sew through some of my knit fabrics, I jumped at the chance to sew up a Parker dress. I lengthened the bodice because I look…weird when the line hits me just below my…
Mercer Top, Take 3
TL; DR – Didn’t mess this one up! First make of 2024 (that I can share right now!). I was digging through my leftover fabric pile for a different project and found this not-insignificant amount of leftover fabric from the Allium Dress I made a few years ago. (Side-note: I still love that dress, and…
Mercer Top, Take 2
TL; DR – HOW DO I STILL MANAGE TO MESS UP SLEEVES?!?! I got a Mood Fabric Mystery Box for Christmas from my Dad, which is perfect, because it’s a surprise and also exactly what I wanted – MOAR FABRIC! You can check out my Instagram Story about the whole haul (and seeing how much…
Pattern Review: ME2008 by Know Me Patterns
TL; DR – Easier than you would think, especially because there is a sew-a-long video. I have been following Mimi G for a while now, basically since I started sewing a few short years ago. She has made it her life’s work to diversify the Big Three patterns (although I have no idea where burda…
Sirocco Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – I really need to make this one more. I’m trying to work through my rather large collection of knits, and as much as I love my original Sirocco jumpsuit, for whatever reason I haven’t made another one. I had clearly forgotten how freaking easy this pattern is to put together and sew…
Free Pattern Review/Hack: Cowl Neck Dress by Burda
TL; DR – I feel like I’m leveling up! So this expensive and not size-inclusive top keeps algorithmically taunting me. I had a lovely burgundy ponte, the Cowl Neck dress from burda patterns (which, questionable legality on me downloading it, but mostly the patterns shared on the site are/were free at one point), and the…
Free Pattern Review: Sam Apron
TL; DR – This is a really good apron pattern. It’s almost Christmas, and I didn’t have a gift yet for my step-dad. My mom let me know that he needed a new apron for cooking and if I had time to make one for him… I had this leftover denim from the Ludlow I…
Kielo Wrap Dress, Take 9
TL; DR – Barbiecore in full force I’m pretty sure I cut this when everyone was obsessed with the Barbie movie, and all things pink, but I’ve only gotten around to sew it now. It took less than two hours. Pretty sure I’ve got this one down as long as I remember to put the…
Pleats and Thank You Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – How many times do I have to tell myself not to get cocky? Ok, so you know how I said I was making a wardrobe for our trip to Italy? Yeah, the thing about winter weight jumpsuits is that they are REALLY BULKY to pack. So none of these new jumpsuits make…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 6
TL; DR – I still struggle buying and choosing fabric. We’re about to go to Italy for a family vacation, so of course I have to make an entire new capsule wardrobe lol. I wanted a “winter” Zadie, and I had this…look, I am terrible at keeping track of my fabric. This fabric is thick…
Pattern Review: Shoalhaven Shacket from Muna and Broad
TL; DR – you’d think I was new at this the number of stupid mistakes I made. I’ve wanted to make a shacket-type coat for a while. That’s what I was trying to do here, but it was an epic fail. I bought the Shoalhaven Shacket from Muna and Broad a while ago, but was…
Pattern Review: Zero Waste Bog Coat by The Sew Sew
TL; DR – So much quilt guts, but super-simple pattern, why didn’t I do this one earlier? I was supposed to be a pattern tester for the ZW Bog Coat by The Sew Sew, but my life got chaotic, and I just couldn’t. And then I got intimidated by the fact that there isn’t a…
Pattern Review: Mercer Top from Sewing and the City
TL; DR – Someday, I might get sleeves. Maybe. You know I love a good Marimekko print, and I happened to find two aprons in this lovely print on super-sale (not wanting to spend upwards of $60/m for the fabric). I decided to make a Mercer Top (curvy version) from Sewing and the City with…
Pattern Review: QUINCY by TAUKO Magazine
TL; DR – Boobyliscious. I’ve been a reader of TAUKO Magazine since the beginning. I loved the layout, I loved the themes, I loved the patterns. Except…I cannot for the life of me figure out to to trace the damn patterns that are all overlapping and I just go cross-eyed. So when I saw a…
Pattern Review: Abingdon Dress by Styla Patterns
TL; DR – Shirring is still easy and yet also hard, as well as working with silky fabric. I was so happy to get to test the Abingdon Dress by Style Patterns. It’s a super-simple dress with shirring at the waist and sleeve cuffs. I made the maxi version (although it has different lengths) with…
Pattern Review: Pleats and Thank You Jumpsuit by Forest & Thread
TL; DR – BEHOLD! I don’t know what it is about my and jumpsuits with interesting shoulders, but here we go, I love it. I’ve done testing for Forest & Thread before and I love their patterns, so when I had the chance to test the new Pleats and Thank You jumpsuit? YES PLEASE THANK…
Free Pattern Review: Carya Shirt Pattern from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – [Insert swear words here] After I made my daughter the mushroom skirt, she insisted we go back, get more of the same fabric, and make her and her BFF matching button-up shirts. She chose the unisex Carya shirt pattern from Mood Fabrics for their shirts. OK, so there are a confluence of…
Pattern Review: Lilja Dress from Named Patterns
TL; DR – I so needed a woven version of the Kielo dress. I love this dress. Y’all know how much I love the Kielo wrap dress pattern. And when Named Patterns came out with the Lilja dress pattern (which can also be a pinafore or shirt), I jumped on it. And when I found…
Pattern Review: MVP BD Shirt by Forest & Thread
TL; DR – So. Many. Yokes! And I love being able to rescue a garment to make another garment. I tested the extended sizing for the MVP BD Shirt by Forest & Thread. I repurposed a Liberty of London cotton from the Mitchell Dress I made a few years ago but didn’t fit me anymore….
Pattern Review: Tyra Tank by Tammy Handmade
TL; DR – THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO DO A KNIT V-NECK I was invited to test this super-simple tank pattern. I love it. It was perfect for this cute knit I got. The tutorial for doing the V-neck finishing is GENIUS. I’m not going to spoil it. Anyway, I have a cute tank…
Pattern Review: Alma Jean Dress and Blouse by Artifact Patterns
TL; DR – Don’t I look like a party? A+, no notes. I jumped at the chance to test this lovely dress pattern, Alma Jean by Artifact Patterns, when it came across my instagram feed (oh hey, I have a dedicated sewing insta account now – give it a follow!). It was the perfect dress…
Aida Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – Interfacing is still hard. I got this floral knit on sale from Girl Charlee (an amazing place for knit fabric) mid-summer, but when it showed up it was a little heavy for summer weight. So, I made a transitional Aida dress out of it. The one complaint about the first Aida knit…
Pattern Review: Madison Blouse by Foxy Patterns
TL; DR – I feel pretty, oh so pretty! And, the best tester community experience, ever. The Madison blouse is another pattern I was invited to test by a new indie pattern company, Foxy Patterns. I got this dainty vintage floral print on my local buy-nothing group, and I thought it would be perfect for…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 5
TL; DR – If I slow down just a little and take my time, I can get this pattern cut and sewn in an afternoon. I have had this fabric for ages; I don’t even remember where I got it. And, I’ve been wanting to do a Zadie jumpsuit with a print for a while….
Pattern Review: Cameron Wrap Dress from Sycamore Road Patterns
TL; DR – I still needs to figure out interfacing, symbols or letters for pattern sizes rule, and GIANT SLEEVES. I had the pleasure of being a tester for the Cameron Wrap Dress by Sycamore Road Patterns. I missed the deadline to get feedback in because I got stuck in Atlanta on my way home…
Pattern Review: Autumn Dress by Style Arc
TL; DR – DO NOT DO THIS PATTERN IF YOU ARE A BEGINNER. ALSO, LINEN SHEETS ARE ROUGH TO SEW WITH. My mom asked me a while ago to find a pattern and make her a dress that looks like this: So I asked in the The Foldline Facebook group, and was recommended to find…
Pattern Review: Olivia Button-Up from Sycamore Road Patterns
TL; DR – LOOK AT ME EMBRACING A TREND Another tester patter. I’ve been hesitant to try the oversized shirt trend, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up. I made the Olivia shirt by Sycamore Road Patterns out of some sheets, and it turned out fantastic! The construction of the yoke/collar was…
Pattern Review: Vera Dress by Ploen Patterns
TL; DR – Pattern testing is fun! Sometimes you need a bottom ruffle Another pattern I tested: the new extended sizes for the Vera dress and top from Ploen Patterns. I really love testing patterns when the pattern designer is working to extend the size-range because I want to support these efforts. I made the…
Pattern Review: Naya T-Shirt from Tammy Handmade
TL; DR – Stretch stitches are my nemesis, this pattern is great! I’ve been neglectful at posting pattern review for patterns I’ve been tester for, so I’m clearing out the backlog. I tested the Naya t-shirt pattern from Tammy Handmade, a straightforward knit top pattern that was easy to make and looks amazing. Except for…
Pattern Review: The Asteria Dress from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – This is a lot of dress, but what a lovely pattern it is! I’ve been sitting on this one for a while. I was a tester for the new extended size range for the Asteria Dress from Jennifer Lauren Handmade. I have to say that I was really excited to test this…
Garment 100-ish: Aida Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – This pattern works well with stable knits, I’ve lost count of how many garments I’ve made, Mood Fabrics in NYC is EVERYTHING. A few weeks ago, I got to go to New York City for work. And I was within reasonable walking distance to Mood Fabrics. So of COURSE I had to…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 4
TL; DR – I LOVE THIS PATTERN I reprinted the Zadie jumpsuit in a size that is more reflective of my current body. I am so thankful that I can still wear my old ones with a tank top underneath, but I wanted to see how one that fit…would fit. This is a chambray sheet…
Free Pattern Review: Aida from La Maison Victor
TL; DR – Woo for v-necks that actually cover things up, don’t get complacent about shirring. I got this African wax print (which isn’t actually African, it’s Dutch, because colonialism – learn all about it) a while ago and have been waiting for the right pattern to use it, and settled on Aida from La…
Free Pattern Review: Crisa from La Maison Victor
TL; DR – Either I don’t understand French as well as I thought I did or I still can’t read sewing illustrations all that well. Probably both. I was browsing through my collected list of free sewing pattern resources and noticed that suddenly, there were a lot of patterns by La Maison Victor that were…
Rosalie Shirt Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I LOVE THIS DRESS. I don’t know how long I’ve had this adorable cherry blossom print. It’s from a Danish fabric company which is probably why I jumped on it (Skalllerup is Danish). I thought it would be adorable as a Rosalie Shirt Dress, and I wasn’t mistaken. I did the pockets…
Léonie Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I love this pattern. It’s another make from a Marimekko shower curtain! I made this one shorter than the first Léonie dress I made, and instead of making the back out of just one piece, I made it out of two pieces to take into consideration the dimensions of the shower curtain….
Free Pattern Review: The Rosalie Shirt Dress from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Can a pattern be a simple beginner pattern and super-tricky at the same time? YES IT CAN APPARENTLY. I’ve been wanting a one-piece (ie – not a separate bodice and skirt) shirt dress that flairs out FOREVER. When Mood put out their Rosalie Shirt Dress pattern, I downloaded it right away and…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 6, for #sewfrugal23
TL; DR – This works fantastic with a stable knit, maybe reprinting it in a larger size isn’t so bad after all Last year I made 10 dresses in the month of March for #sewfrugal22. This year, I barely made one. Two, I guess, if you count adding fabric strips to last year’s Mary Quant…
Letting Go
I just recycled a whole bunch of patterns that I had printed and assembled that are no longer the right size. I also cleaned out my closet of all the garments I have made that don’t fit anymore either. I’m planing on listing them in our local buy-nothing group and hope someone enjoys them as…
Atlas Wrap Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – That went better the second time but still managed to be weird? Have you seen some of the dresses on H&M lately? Don’t you find they look a little (A LOT) like an Atlas Wrap Dress? For example: I was like, I finally don’t have to HUNT for a pattern to match…
Pattern Review: Heart and Soul Dress from Ellie and Mac
TL; DR – Stretch velvet is pain to sew, why does my size keep changing? This was my last make of 2022. And while that was six weeks ago, I’m back-dating this post so that history knows when I actually made this dress instead of when I finally got around to writing about it. I…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 3
TL; DR – I did this in one afternoon! I love the Kalle shirtdress pattern. And I love making dresses out of Marimekko shower curtains and sheets. I got this new shower curtain on clearance for Black Friday sales, but was wondering what I could do with the GIANT CIRCLES. I hadn’t made a Kalle…
Pattern Review: Léonie Dress from Liam Patterns
TL; DR – I needed a lot of Dopamine Dressing, why can’t I remember that seam allowances matter, and finally learn TO REINFORCE THE NECKLINE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I had long admired the fabric by Julia Allisson Cost, and I got a gift card to buy some for my birthday. I settled on…
Pattern Review: Staycation Dress from Ellie and Mac Patterns
TL; DR – It’s…fine. When I was in my OMG I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ORANGE phase I picked up this jersey fabric. I wanted to make a tiered dress out of it, and while I wanted to make the free Laurel dress from Styla Patterns, it turned out the bodice was lined and I…
Free Pattern Review for #sewingcpd2022: Veronika Skirt from Megan Nielsen
TL; DR – I should make skirts more often. October is #sewingcpd2022, or Sewing Curvy Pattern Database 2022. The Curvy Pattern Database was started by Sarah (aka @curvysewingdatabase on Instagram) and it is a database of size-inclusive sewing pattern designers, meaning they have sewing patterns available for those with a 60″ hips or higher. Anyway,…
Mal Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – It’s shockingly hard to cut straight lines on a grid fabric. Look, what can I tell you, when big floofy-poofy dresses fall out of fashion, I don’t know what I’m going to do with these Mal Dresses I’m making, but I’ll have LARGE rectangles of fabric to work with. Gingham is also…
Pattern Review: Helena Wrap Dress from Just Patterns
TL; DR – Thank goodness for color photograph tutorials, but sometimes it would be nice to see the larger context rather than a close-up. Remember the green dress that inspired my Wildwood Wrap Dress? Yeah, I finally kinda have one! Since my body has changed, and my neurodivergent brain refuses to reprint and retape patterns…
Pattern Review: Tie Tee from The Sew Sew
TL; DR – Fantastic, simple make, size-inclusive, no notes. I am always wary of garments that could potentially show a lot of back. Unlike some, I have to wear a bra (and not the cute, fun kind that looks cute peaking out of a top), and thus am always a little cautious about patterns that…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 3
TL; DR – SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BE EXTRA EXTRA I’ve had this shinny linen fabric that I impulsively bought (twice) from Mood for a long time now. I’ve been wanting to make something extra-special with it, and finally settled on this super-extra Zadie jumpsuit as a Mother’s Day gift to myself. I remember how challenging…
Free Pattern Review: Portia Party Dress by Rebecca Page
TL; DR – I still need to work on V-necks, I should just bite the bullet and learn how to use my serger. This was supposed to be Entry 11 for the #sewfrugal22 challenge, but alas, the last week of March was absolutely awful and I ran out of time. I had been trying to…
Free Pattern Review: Mal Dress from Mood Fabrics for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I still don’t get sleeves. As soon as I saw this free pattern drop on the Mood Sewciety blog, I knew I had to make the dress, and I knew I was going to use this Nerida Hansen fabric. The Mal dress isn’t zero-waste, but it is minimal waste, which I would…
Free Pattern Review: Allium Dress from Mood Fabrics for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – I still suck at setting sleeves, tiny rolled hems are HARD. I had a dress like this from Victoria Beckham for Target, and I’ve always wanted another one. The Allium Dress from Mood Fabrics is a dead ringer (other than having sleeves) for it (although I could have hacked a sleeveless version)….
Free Pattern Review: Pleated Summer Dress by In The Folds for Peppermint Magazine #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – LOOK AT ALL THE FLOWERS, still not sure how much ease is the right amount of ease, pleats are fun. EVER MOAR MARIMEKKO! These are the iconic flowers, cut from a king-sized flat sheet. I’ve often waffled back and forth about the (deep breath) Pleated Summer dress by In The Folds for…
Free Pattern Review: Donna from Fabrics Store for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – ARGH, freaking trying to get an elastic through is always harder than you think it should be. Man, I’m sewing up a storm! This is more Marimekko shower curtain, and I was tired of making Mary Quant Mini-Dresses. So I decided to make this lovely and simple Donna dress, free from The…
Mary Quant Mini-Dress, Take 4 for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – MOAR MARIMEKKO SHOWER CURTAIN. I figured out sleeves. I bought a Marimekko shower curtain on super-sale from Belk (which will only resonate with people living in the South). OK, I bought multiple Marimekko shower curtains and bedding on super-sale from Belk, but for this post, it’s the black circle pattern one I…
Free Pattern Review: Wrap Top from In The Folds/Peppermint Magazine for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR: I can hack patterns now, wrap tops are fun, just like wrap jumpsuits and wrap dresses. I have an aesthetic lol. I found a gorgeous black linen on super-sale online. I thought, ZADIE JUMPSUIT! and ordered the appropriate amount. And then they only sent me one stinking yard (don’t worry – they only…
Free Pattern Review: Laundry Day Tee from Love Notions Patterns for #sewfrugal22
TL; DR – IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST PATTERN DO NO SELECT THE V-NECK OPTION, because other than that, this pattern is easy-peasy…as long as you don’t get cocky and anger the sewing deities, like I did. Y’all know I like a good IG challenge. Every March (apparently) the challenge is to make garments using…
Pattern Review: Sirocco Jumpsuit from Deer and Doe Patterns
TL; DR Pattern matching is ROUGH, knit jumpsuits are secret pajamas, I love it when a pattern company works to be more size-inclusive. When I first started sewing and was looking for much-loved patterns, I found the Sirocco jumpsuit pattern from Deer and Doe. At the time, the pattern didn’t *quite* make it’s way to…
Pattern Review: Georgie Pinafore from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – How is it I can do hidden zippers so easily but continually mess up regular zippers? I didn’t think I’d like a pinafore but here we are, and I am getting more confident and can make adjustments without completely ruining the garment. Full disclosure: I was gifted this pattern in order to…
Pattern Review: Gone Rogue Skirt by Forest and Thread
TL; DR – I got this pattern for free as a tester, it’s a challenging skirt that I made more challenging with my fabric choice, but the results are stunning. I saw the call from Forest and Thread for pattern testers as they expand their size range, and now that the pattern is available for…
Pattern Review: Belgravia from Liesl + Co
TL; DR – WHY NO STRETCH STITCH EVER WORK, having a cutting table is still awesome, and you can always do tiled patterns better. Look, I have an aesthetic. One of them is that I love a tie-waist. After the debacle of the Willa dress (which was all on me and not noting that there…
Kalle Shirt, Take 1
TL; DR – You can make a pattern any number of times, and you still learn something. I’ve already reviewed this pattern, so I’m going to indulge in a little bit of storytelling, the kind that drive people nuts on cooking blogs and that drive me nuts on sewing tutorial videos. We were visiting friends…
Pattern Review: Farris Jumpsuit from Jennifer Lauren Handmade
TL; DR – I may actually love jumpsuits, I just may have been too ready to judge drawstring waists harshly, testing patterns in FUN! Now that the Farris Jumpsuit pattern from Jennifer Lauren Handmade has officially been released, I can share my review of the pattern and my adventures in being a PATTERN TESTER. I…
Elodie Wrap Dress, Take 3
TL; DR – LOL MASSIVE FAIL BUT TIM GUNN WOULD BE PROUD BECAUSE IT WAS A REAL MAKE IT WORK MOMENT. You’d think that by now, the third time, it would be a charm. LOL NOPE. So, I ended up sewing the skirt together wrong, attaching the panels middle-middle-side-side instead of side-middle-middle-side. And I only…
Elodie Wrap Dress, Take 2
TL; DR – I got nothing on this one, the pattern is still great and I learned my lesson to slow down, read (and re-read) the directions. Just look at how adorable this dress is. The facing isn’t quite right on the inside, but I’m not sure what I did differently from the other Elodie…
Zadie Jumpsuit, Take 2
TL; DR – Twill is lovely but SUCH A PAIN NEVER AGAIN, for the love of all things holy read the damn directions, buy a huge role of bias tape you will be grateful. Before I understood the difference between 45″ and 60″ fabric, I bought entirely too much purple twill in order to make…
Kalle Shirtdress, Take 2
TL; DR – DO NOT GET COMPLACENT, transfer the pattern marking onto the fabric FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. This is my second Kalle shirtdress. I did my first one early in my sewing journey, and it took some time, given all the various skills I had to learn (collar, placket, bias tape hem). This…
Pattern Review: Zadie Jumpsuit from Paper Theory
TL; DR – Different doesn’t always mean hard, I love this pattern so much. I’m not, as my husband says, a jumpsuit person, despite my efforts to the contrary. I asked in one of sewing FB groups what jumpsuit pattern they would recommend for this relatively short, busty, short torso, thick-waisted sewist. They all came…
Pattern Review: Elodie Wrap Dress from Closet Core Patterns
TL; DR – Don’t be afraid to grade between sizes, fabric matters. The Elodie Wrap Dress from Closet Core Patterns in a another pattern that comes up again and again and again when you google “best woven wrap dress patterns”. It goes up to a size 30, the instructions are really well-done, and there is…
Pattern Review: Sleeveless Kielo Wrap Dress by Named Patterns
TL; DR – Sometimes knits are a pain to sew, sewing machines are temperamental, sometimes you sew when you can control anything else in your life, and it still won’t be something you can control. This is going to one of those posts that people (including me) complain about, where I am going to tell…
Free Pattern Review: Rowan Dress from Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Polyester lining is a pain, the tools you use matter, fun fabrics are fun. Ever since I saw the Rowan Dress on Mood Fabrics, I knew I had to make it. And because of my ADHD, I have trouble seeing a dress in any other form than the one presented to me…
Pattern Review: Wildwood Wrap Dress from Sew House Seven
TL; DR – Sometimes wovens are not, in fact, easier then knits, collars remain a challenge, and if there is a video tutorial/sew-a-long WATCH IT. It started when I saw this dress from a Chinese knock-off place that was algorithmically fed to me on my FB: Anyway, it was dirt cheap but even the 3XL…
Free Pattern Review: The Meadow Jumpsuit by Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – The machine you use MATTERS, and I might have to accept that I’m not a jumpsuit person. I love jumpsuits. Except I have a big chest, a short torso, and I am a little on the short side (AVERAGE HEIGHT I SHOULD SAY). So…jumpsuits don’t always love me back. I saw the…
Free Pattern Review: Hazel Coat by Mood Fabrics
TL; DR – Learn how to do finished garment measurements when you aren’t provided them. Using a lighter fabric for the outer coat and a heavier fabric for the lining is a recipe for disaster. I wanted a coat that I could wear in a open field and imagine myself on the cover of Taylor…
Pattern Review: Indira by Fibre Mood
TL; DR – Sometimes the pattern directions make assumptions about your knowledge, in-seem pockets are harder than you think, and I still haven’t found a good tutorial for them. Choose the right needle for your project. I wanted a shirtdress with brushstrokes. I found the fabric at Mood, and got the Indira pattern from Fibre…
Pattern Review: Kalle Shirtdress by Closet Core Patterns
TL;DR – FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST SHOW ME HOW TO DO THE DAMN THING I AM WATCHING THIS VIDEO TO LEARN. I love a good shirtdress. I found an amazing burgundy pinstripe shirting fabric. And I then I found the Kalle Shirtdress and Shirt pattern from Closet Core Patterns. With it came a…
